Home » Power struggle: Wajir county now has two governors in charge

Power struggle: Wajir county now has two governors in charge

by Enock Ndayala

Wajir county is now headed by two governors after the recently impeached governor Mohamed Abdi and his former deputy Ahmed Muktar both claimed to be in control of the county government.

Kivumbi.co.ke reported Mohamed Abdi was ousted after 34 out of 49 ward reps signed the motion to impeach him.

After his impeachment at the County level, the Senate formed a special committee comprising of 11 members to deliberate on the matter.

After his impeachment at the County level, the Senate formed a special committee comprising of 11 members to deliberate on the matter. Photo: Mohamed Abdi/Twitter.

The panel that was chaired by Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni in its finding recommended his ouster.

The recommendation came after the committee found Abdi guilty of grossly violating the Constitution, County Government Public Procurement and Asset Disposal and Public Finance Management acts.

What followed after was the swearing in of his deputy Mukhtar Ahmed.

But just before the swearing in of Muktar, the embattled governor decided to sought refuge in corridors of justice where the High Court suspended the swearing in of his deputy.

Nonetheless, the order was issued after Muktar had already been sworn in.

After failed attempts to retain his seat, former governor Mohamed Abdi on Tuesday, May 25, claimed to be still in charge of the county whereas Muktar on his part maintained to be legally in control of the government.

While addressing journalist at the Council of Governor’s headquarters in Nairobi, Abdi said his impeachment was against the rule of law adding that the whole process might have been orchestrated by his political competitors.

“The entire findings and resolutions of the Senate to remove me from office was rendered ineffective, inapplicable and non-operational,

“As such everything done pursuant to the resolution of the senate including the purported swearing in of the governor as the governor of Wajir has no effect,” he said.

On the same day, Mukhtar maintained that he was legally in charge few days after he was sworn in.

Ahmed Muktar was sworn in as the third governor of Wajir county on May 18, at the County headquarters.

While addressing journalists in Nairobi, the newly sworn-in governor said the crisis was causing tension in the region and appealed to the ousted governor to support the new administration.

Wajir MCAs accused the former governor of corruption, abuse of office, and incompetency.

Tula Tula MCA Abdullahi Mohamed, the mover of the motion accused the county boss of delegating powers to his wife Kheira Omar adding that the former MP had failed to provide quarterly expenditure reports to the county assembly as required by the Public Finance Management Act 2012.

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